LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — An Arkansas mental health hospital is facing a lawsuit after a minor patient allegedly suffered sexual assault from a male patient.
Jane Doe, as parent and next friend of Jane Doe, a minor, filed a complaint Aug. 2 in Pulaski County Circuit Court against The BridgeWay LLC, John Does 1-4, and John Doe Entities 1-4, alleging negligence and other claims.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, BridgeWay is a mental health hospital located in Pulaski County. It claims Jane Doe, a 12-year old minor, was involuntarily admitted to BridgeWay on June 18, 2023, after sending inappropriate messages and naked photos and then threatening to kill her parents and attempting to swallow pills.
The plaintiff claims that on the evening of her being admitted, a 17-year old male patient raped Doe while she was in the shower despite an order that she was supposed to have "face-to-face checks in bathrooms and showers." She further claims that BridgeWay has "systemic failures" in keeping its female patients safe from assaults and that Doe has suffered mental anguish and emotional trauma due to the defendant's failure to supervise and monitor patients.
She also alleges the defendant's negligence for failing to have sufficient staff and appropriate housing and patient mix.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Meredith Moore and Eric Wewers of Rainwater, Holt & Sexton PA in Little Rock.